Valve and magnetic actuating tool



July 5, 1960 J. NOBLE 'VALVE AND MAGNETIC ACTUATING TOOL Filed May 16, 1958 Unite States This invention relates to a locking valve and actuating tool designed primarily for use in connection with a gas supply controlling valve, but it is to be understood that a locking valve and actuating tool, in accordance with this invention, may be employed in any connection for which it is found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, means to prevent the opening of a supply valve surreptitiously.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, means to prevent the stealing'of gas from the gas mains of any public utilities, whether municipal or private, after service has been. cut off from the customer on the closing of the service valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, means to prevent unauthorized' persons from turning the gas valve back to normal position once said person has turned the valve to closed position without authority, whereby he could tamper with the gas meter or other lines associated therewith.

Still another object of the invention is to install a movable plunger in a valve member which will fall into a bore in the valve body should the valve member be turned to a closed position and a tool with the provisions of a permanent magnet embodied therewith which will lift the plunger from the bore permitting movement of the valve member to normal position.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and following specification.

The invention in a preferred form is shown in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view illustrating a valve tool embodying principles of the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a sectional side elevational of a valve casing and valve having the present invention embodied therein, and the tool as shown in Fig. 1 in combination therewith, with portions shown in full lines;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the valve casing an valve principles of the invention taken along lines 3-3 in Fig. 2, the valve being in normal open position;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the valve casing and valve embodying the principles of the present invention with the valve in closed position; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along :lines 5-5 in Fig. 4, some portions shown in full lines and some by dotted lines.

As shown in the drawings and referring specifically to Figure 2, the reference numeral indicates generally the valve casing, or body, of an angle-cock, or similar device. The valve casing 14) is provided with the rotatable plug valve 11 located within the casing, and the usual inlet l2 and the outlet 14. Mounted upon the upper end of the'valve casing is the removable tool 15 as shown in Fig. 2. The body of the tool is provided with a rectangular opening 16 to fit over the rectangular head 17 0f the plug valve to turn the valve as desired. The

'- atent tool has a rearwardly extending handle portion 19 and forwardly extending hub portion 20.

The valve casing 10 is provided between its extremities with a vertical conical bore 22. The valve 11 is pro vided in its body portion with a transverse port 23,

" which, by rotation of the valve 11, may be thrown into alignment with the inlet and outletopenings, or by a quarter turn given thereto, may shut off communication between the inlet and outlet openings. The valve 11 is maintained snugly in its position within the bore 22 by means of a washer 24 and nut 25 threaded upon the threaded end of the stud 26 integrally formed with the base portion 27 of said valve 11. Thervalve casing 10 is further provided at its top with a hub portion 28 and a circular recess 29 therein. The valve 11 provided at its upper end with said rectangular head '17 is further provided with a vertical cylindrical bore 30 located in said hubportion 28 adjacent the edge portion thereof, said bore extending from the base 32 of said hub portion 28 to a depth slightly less than the thickness of said hub leaving a Wall 31 intermediate said bore and the top surface 33. A Vertical channel 34 extends between said bore 30 and said top surface 33 of said hub 28. The valve casing 10 is provided with two arcuate recesses 35 and 36 in its hub portion 28, said arcuate recesses being formed in the base portion 34 'of said circular recess 29 and substantially above the inlet portion 12 of said valve casing 10. Each of said arcuate recesses 35 and 36 extending approximately one sixth the circumference length of said circular recess 29 and extending to a plane passing vertically th ough the center of said conical bore 22 and at right angles to said inlet portion 12. Said hub portion 28 of said valve 11 is formed with an outwardly extending boss 37 with a central circular opening 38. A steel locking plug 40 of cylindrical configuration is inserted in the bore 30 when the valve 11 is assembled with the valve casing 10. Said plug 40 is slightly less in diameter than the bore 30 so as to be freely movable therein, and approximately the same length as the depth of the bore. The plug 40 drops downwardly due to its weight and the lower end 41 thereof rides upon the horizontal surface of base portion 34 of recess 29. When the valve 11 is turned 45 degrees or more said plug 40 will drop still further into one of said arcuate recesses 35 or 36 according to direction of movement of the valve, if the valve is turned clockwise the plug will drop into recess 35 so that its lower end portion will ride upon the bottom surface of said recess 35; if the valve is turned counterclockwise said plug will drop into recess 36; the upper end portion 42 of said plug 40 is always retained within said bore 39 as the distance of travel performed by the plug 49 is substantially equal to one-half the length of the plug 40.

The removable tool 15, with handle portion 13 and hub portion 20 has a valve actuatingmember 44 attached to the hub portion 20 thereof. Said valve actuating member 44 comprising a fiat central portion 45, a lower semi-spherical portion 46 and an upwardly and centrally arranged vertical rivet type stub 47. Said hub' portion 20 of said tool has a centrally located vertical bore 48' The valve actuating member 44 is assembled by inserting said rivet type stub 47 into said bore -48 therein.

from the lower end thereof. The upper end 50 of said stub 47 is riveted into tight engagement with the top thereof, said recess 52 terminating into two. downwardly;

turned passages 53 and 54 short of a complete circle fullye' 'closedposition of thezvalve'. the concealed pin in the 'valve cas'ing he will be required to-call'an-authorized service-man from the public utility.

I with asolid'section' between the ends thereof; said downwardly turned passages 53 and lproviding a vertical outlet to the lower surface. of the tool. A permanent magnet 55 of the same circular configuration as the recess 5% is placed in! sm'd recess 52, the. ends'id and 57 of" the magnet being turned downwardly to fit intotheventicaln passageways 53=-and 'Fheends of'themagnet fr6 mid 'ii7 are positioned to=travel in a circle" directly over the; steel locking pin 40" and arcuat'e recesses 35 and? 36 when thektool: 1S is rotatedl The magnet 55 i's assembled in the tool I5 by removal of alower section 53' ofith'e; tool; after" assemblyjof the section is riveted T in place by Fives 59: formed as and depending from handle 19? The permanent? magnet; 55 may he -do scribed? as a subst'anti-allv horse-shoe shaped magnet '55} The ends 56' and 5? 0tthe magnet fitting tightlyin passageways 53v and 54:- r 1 V r g V I When'ans unauthorized person'desires to turn off the gas, said'jperson woulduse an ordinary wrench. O'nturningv the valve 45 degrees or more, the pin 40 will falli downwardly into recess 36. When said person tries to turn, on thegas; he will attempt to turn the valveto-norturning of? the valve to normal fully open position; The obstruction point will be midway between fully open and Not'knowing about The service-man will apply his" valve tool with the permanent magnet concealed-therein. The vertical force distancebetween the 'ends- 56 and 57' of -the permanent 'magnet andj the top" of the pi'n 40 is-very short in rela tiou to-the effective lifting force of said permanent magnet- 55. The force difference is therefore determined entirely by the weight of the pin; The passage, or ver--' 'tical channel 3 extends between-said bore 30 and said. 7 to'p surface 33' of the hub '28 allows anyentrapped air to escape. The lifting force of the magnet at the poles 5:6 a'nd'5'7less the Weight: of the pin 34 is always enou'gh toxli-ft the pin to permit rotation ofthe valve 11 to open position without detection by. the unauthorized person ofithe novel embodiments of the valve tool.

' magn cts'prevent.demagnetization.byheat or'sho'ckor the likennd permit a permanent magnetto capabiy operateinzthecapaeity' hereinbefore described.

with depending e'nd portions 55 and 57 as'shownby Fig."

7 mal: open: position. but will find it impossible to do so as the' remains in the recess 35, or 36', preventing" movable into: said 'arcuate recesswhent said valve. is rotated to a second positiontby a non magnetic'zltool, and; said permanent magnet?inisaid'reznovable tooliiatrangetb position while in use, an arcuate recess in the upper surface-of saidvalve casing; said pin movableintosaid 3I'Gl-1- ate recess for holding said valve against rotary movement when said valve is rotated to a second position. of non-use by a non-magnetic tool, and said permanent magnet in said tool arranged with its poles to move above the path of travel of said pin, said poles embodying a lifting force to lift-said; pin upwardly out ofsaid tool, said valve embodying an upper hub' portion; a rec- V tangular shaped; head uponsaid upper hub portion of said valve, a rectangularshapedaperture'in one end of V said tool of substantially the same configuration as said rectangular shaped head upon said valve and adapted to 1 'fit over said head, a permanent magnet assembled within:

said removable tool w-ith its. poles adjacentsaid. aperture; circular recess: formedl in'fthe uppen surfaceofi. said valve casing and. encircling; said valve. arranged therein, arr arcuate recess in. the lower? surface. 'of saidl circular recess, avenioali borein said uppet hub portion; of said valvelwith an: open lowerend; a;'pin,. saidi pin movablyzrnounted withinsaid iJOI'fi-Glll its: original fir'stfl position, the: lower end: of said: pin: in sliding: contact? withthe bottom surface of said circular recesspsaidpim withitspoles to trayehaboveisaid circular." recess, isa'idi-Q i poles embodying: a: lifting force. to." efiect. said pin up-e i \vardly' outvof saith arcuate recess; when, therein. and' to controLthe freerotationzof said valve whereby said-ivalvei 5 7 can be rotated to its originalt first: positionv and saidipim will rest: illi said circular recess.

3'; A.flow controlling device'comprising'alvalve:casing; .1.

a' rotatable valve, a slidable. pin located in said valve;

a recess the upper portion of said valve oasingsaid' pinzadapted'to move. downwardly due'to forceiof: gravity into said recess and into and; out of engagement withithe end walls of said recess. preventinga complete rotation of i saidi valve, a: tool to. rotate: said valve, and said: tool- I am aware that numerous details of construction may 'b'e. variedihrou'ghouti' a wide range without departing fiom the principles. and'purposes-ofj myinvention, and lztherefore:do:-not:intend?limiting thescope ofmy paten otherwisethanastnecessitatedhy the prior. art; j laclaimassmyinventiomi Ti 7 1 5 f "1114A flow ontrolling device comprisinga .valve cas ing, a rotary valve in said; vaive casing; a tool to. rotate said valve; aihe'adzupon;saidzvalveQ said .tool embodying a. handle portionzfononejendi a hub. portion on its:

7 other .end; an'iaperture in the-hub of said tool' of the samei'configuration as the'rconfiguration of said? headio'n:

embodying a. magnet adapted to lift said pin from said: L

recessto release the rotary valve:

4. A flow controlling devicecornprising'avalvecasiug; V

a rotatable; valve,- -a 'shiftable metal pint located; within a vertical bore. in: said valve;- a. circularrecess: in the: uppen portion of said valve. casing, an arcuate recess inlthe; lower surface: of said. circular recess, theloweriendf-of said pin adaptedito slide. upon theJQWerrsurface of said circular. recess. andi drop into" said arcuate recess: when said valveis rotated; said. pin moving into-engagement with the. end wallsofsaid arcuatei recess preventing completerotationtof' said valve, andia magnetictool adaptedi to liftsaidtpin. from said arcuaterecess to permitcornt plete rotationrof said. valve. w 7

5; A flow controlling device comprisingaivalve'casing, ai rotatable valve, a: magnetic tool,. a rectangular head' on said: valve, a rectangular-aperture: inl said tool. to; fit: over and into" engagement with: said rectangular? head; if hub? portion: uponth e' upperien'd, of said valve; a -tvera tical bore in said hubportionrand open at its lower; end;

a? cylindrical shift'able metal pin; located: in said; bore; .a

circular recess in thef'upper'surface] of said valye casi ing, 'a plurality of arcuate recesses; in theflowersurface of: saidfch'culan reces'slspaced'apart circumferentially; the j lower end of? said? pin adaptcd tol 'slide upon the" l'owen surface of said circular recess and drop intoomefofasaid- V arcuate recesses when: said valve? is rotatedandprevent ing returnimovement thereof, saidtool embodying ai'pera pinnpwardly-fromtan arcuate recesstetfectingzfi'eemove manent-'magnet;-.said magnet adapted to lift-isaid. metal:

mentfofi sai hvalve whenapplied to said valve.

6.. Atflow controlling'device comprising: a valve-casing;

a rotatable valve, said valve having an upper hub portion, a recess in the upper surface of said valve casing, a vertical bore in the lower surface of said hub portion, a metal pin slidable within said bore, the lower end of said pin projecting downwardly from said bore and in contact with the upper surface of said casing and adapted to drop into said recess and hold said valve against rotary movement when said valve is rotated from its original position, and a tool removably mounted upon said valve, said tool embodying a permanent magnet, said tool for retracting the pin from said recess when applied to said valve to release the valve and efiect free rotation thereof.

7. A flow controlling device, comprising a valve casing, a rotatable valve, a tool for rotating said valve including a permanent magnet, a vertical bore in said valve, a metal pin slidably mounted within said bore, a recess in said valve casing, the lower end of said pin adapted to drop downwardly into said recess when said valve is partially rotated preventing further rotation thereof, whereby upon application of said tool upon said valve, the said pin is caused to move upwardly under 6 the influence of the magnetic flux between the magnet and the pin allowing the valve to be rotated to any position.

8. A flow controlling device comprising a valve casing, a rotary valve in said casing, a lever for operating said valve, a vertical bore within said valve, a pin slidable in and normally supported in said vertical bore when said valve is in one position, a recess within said valve casing, said pin having a lower end portion to extend into said recess when said valve is turned to a second position for holding said valve against rotary movement to the first position, said lever comprising a permanent magnet with poles adapted to lift said pin thereby lifting the lower portion of the pin out of said recess to release the said valve whereby said valve can be turned from said second position to the first position.

Bayley Apr. 7, 1896 Fuehrer Aug 31, 1943 

